Holy Family University to Induct Four Individuals, One Team into HFU Athletics Hall of Fame
As part of TigerFest 2023, the Holy Family University Department of Athletics is delighted to announce the induction of four individuals – Kevin Comey ‘91, Fran Dougherty ’99, Donna (Elliott) Kilpatrick ‘00, and William “Mickey” McGroarty – and one team – 2007-08 women’s basketball – into the HFU Athletics Hall of Fame.
The honorees will be celebrated at a ceremony in the Campus Center in April 2024 at a date to be determined.
“This year’s inductees are some of the most impressive to have ever represented the department,” said Tim Hamill, Director of Athletics. “While athletic and coaching accolades played a large role in their inductions, they more importantly embodied what it meant to be a Tiger through their actions that were rooted in the university’s core values.”
Kevin Comey ‘91 | Men’s Basketball | 1987-91
Comey is the program’s all-time leader in assists (1,104), free throw percentage (87.8) and games played (134), while ranking second in assists per game (8.2) and 3-point percentage (54.9). He is also sixth with 250 3-pointers and eighth with 1,530 points. His 70.9 3-point percentage in 1988-89 and 346 assists in 1990-91 are both program records, as he appears in the top-10 of the single-season record book 15 times. Comey was a two-time All-KAC selection and earned NAIA All-District 19 honors in 1989-90. Holy Family went a combined 105-29 during his four seasons, including winning a program record 30 games in 1988-89 as the Tigers won NAIA District 19 and advanced to the NAIA National Tournament. HFU followed that up with a KAC Tournament championship in 1989-90.
Fran Dougherty ’99 | Men’s Soccer | 1995-98
Dougherty is the program’s all-time leader with 42 goals, while ranking second with 104 points and tied for fifth with 20 assists. He earned NAIA Northeast All-Region, All-Northeast Independent, All-Southeast Independent and NE Atlantic All-Conference accolades during his career. Holy Family won at least 11 matches in all four of his seasons, totaling 54 victories as the Tigers advanced to NAIA Region Tournament all four years.
Donna (Elliott) Kilpatrick ’00 | Women’s Soccer | 1996-99
Kilpatrick is the program’s all-time leader with .81 goals per match. She also ranks second in goals (68) and points per match (1.94), third in points (163), fifth in assists (27) and seventh in assists per match (.32). Kilpatrick was a member of the first four teams in program history, helping guide HFU to a 62-25 record, including three consecutive NAIA Regionals. The Tigers won their first CACC Tournament title in their first season in the league in her senior season in 1999. She earned All-NAIA Mid-South honors in each of her first three years and then All-CACC accolades in her senior season. She was an All-Region selection in each of her final three years.
William “Mickey” McGroarty | Head Softball Coach | 1992-2009
McGroarty is the program’s all-time winningest coach with a 412-296-4 record. He coached Holy Family for 18 seasons, leading the Tigers to three NAIA Regionals, the 1998 KAC Tournament title and the 2003 NAIA Independent Tournament championship. HFU also qualified for six CACC Tournaments. His 1999 team holds the program record with 36 victories, while his 2001 squad received votes in the final NAIA Top-25 Poll.
2007-08 Women’s Basketball Team
2007-08 women’s basketball becomes the first team inducted into the HFU Athletics Hall of Fame after it completed a perfect regular season and became the first CACC team to advance to the East Region Final (NCAA Tournament Sweet 16). Holy Family was also the first team from the league to earn the No. 1 seed and host the Northeast Regional. The Tigers won the first 32 games of their campaign, which included going 18-0 in conference play and winning the CACC Tournament title. Holy Family finished with a 32-1 record and was ranked No. 4 in the final poll of the season.